And they journeyed from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sin… Exodus 16:1aAt first glance, the Wilderness of Sin, the sixth campsite (in a series of seven the Lord will bring
Israel) seems like a rotten place, but in reality it is a magnificent vista. It is a blessed location because it is here
God gives His people the choice to receive provision. It is in Sin they were provided sustenance, for there they were given manna. And what seems like a coincidental play on words, it is in sin we too are given a comparable choice.
What is it?
“What is it?” is the literal translation of the word manna; for to Israel it was the most bizarre concoction they had ever seen or partaken of. The Bible will tell us that this manna was merely a picture of what was to come in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Isn’t it peculiar that, “What is it?” is the same query of the world today regarding our Jesus and His Word.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
The parallels between Jesus (the bread of life) and manna are wonderful. The Exodus text provides a basic prescription for the believer to follow in order that a meaningful, godly existence can be experienced—a life grounded in the word of God. And just to be certain that we’re on the same page, Jesus and the Word of God are synonymous.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. John 1:1-2
I find it very interesting to note that before Israel had partaken of the manna (a picture of His Word), they were delusional. In Exodus 16:3 they were quoted that (while in Egypt) they had pots of meat and bellies full of bread. In their murmuring they had forgotten that they were abused and tormented slaves in Egypt. However, once the manna was provided and they consumed it in the prescribed manner, their mutinous fantasies ceased.
The Lord God has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned. The Lord God has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away. Isaiah 50:4-5
The verse from Isaiah hints that morning is the best time to consume God’s word. As the day passes and life’s concerns begin to take priority, the opportunities to absorb the Word fall away. The Exodus passage reminds us that as the sun rises higher in the sky, the manna would melt away. The same is true for our opportunity to be sated with the Lord’s bread.
And Moses said, “Let no one leave any of it till morning.” Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. Exodus 16:19-20
Finally, there is a tendency for the Christian to hoard God’s word, whether it is the person who gains knowledge for knowledge’s sake or the believer who hops from one mountain-top experience to another. The reality is that what God freely gives is not for our nourishment alone, but for His glory ultimately. If we greedily consume without sharing what we have received, we become fat and lazy blessers of ourselves. Under these circumstances we soon discover that what is gathered soon rots. Like an un-picked apple, it eventually falls pointlessly to the ground. To avoid this regretful occurrence, God tells us we should gather our bread daily and use it up, guided by His Spirit, by day’s end.
Remember Joshua?
He Dwells -- The B'log in My Eye 